Srinagar, Apr 21: Facing a decline in student enrolment, the Jammu & Kashmir government has constituted a six-member task force to enhance the Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) across universities and Government Degree Colleges (GDCs) in the Union Territory.
The committee will be headed by the Director Colleges, J&K, and has been mandated to examine the causes behind low enrolment and recommend corrective measures.
The move comes amid a noticeable dip in student intake, particularly in newly established colleges across various regions of J&K. Universities, too, are grappling with low enrolment at the postgraduate (PG) level, with several departments reporting vacant seats due to a lukewarm response from students.
This newspaper has previously reported on the issue, highlighting the persistent challenges faced by higher education institutions in filling seats during both undergraduate (UG) and PG admissions.
The decision to constitute the task force was taken following a meeting chaired by the J&K Chief Secretary on February 21, 2026, to review the declining GER in colleges and universities.
According to an order issued by the Commissioner Secretary, Higher Education Department (HED), the committee comprises the Director Colleges as chairperson, with Directors of School Education for both Kashmir and Jammu divisions as members. Registrars of the University of Kashmir and the University of Jammu, along with the Deputy Secretary of HED, are also part of the panel.
“The chairman of the committee may co-opt any additional member, if required, for effective discharge of its mandate,” the order states.
A senior official said the government views the decline in enrolment as a serious concern and is working to identify its root causes.
“Over the years, universities like KU have had to offer spot admissions in several courses after seats remained vacant even after PG entrance examinations. Similarly, the Central University of Kashmir has also resorted to spot admissions despite students qualifying for CUET,” the official said.
He added that low enrolment in newly established colleges and universities remains a key challenge.
“While the new colleges have relatively better infrastructure, students continue to prefer older institutions, resulting in low enrolment in these campuses,” he said.
Officials also acknowledged gaps in facilities in colleges established after 2019, which may be contributing to the trend.
Currently, the Higher Education Department oversees 144 degree colleges—72 each in the Kashmir and Jammu regions—including 52 institutions set up in recent years.
Last year, the department relocated faculty from GDC AllochiBagh, Srinagar, to nearby colleges after the institution functioned without a dedicated campus for nearly four years since its establishment in 2021–22. The college had been operating from a makeshift arrangement at MP Higher Secondary School, Srinagar, and failed to enrol a single student during the last academic session.
